“So that means…” Hope starts.
“Yes,” Mika nods, “as long as there is water, we will have electricity.”
“Well, that was long winded and boring,” Fanny says picking the microphone back up, “but now if you don’t mind, I’d like to try and call home.”
“Fanny be nice,” Hope whispers to her friend.
“I am being nice,” She replies.
Mika pushes his way past Fanny his hands fiddle with the nobs and buttons until the radio starts to hum. The lights above them dim before they flicker back to their original brightness.
“That can’t be good,” Fanny says looking around.
“It’s normal,” Mika says continuing to play with the radio, “this radio hasn’t been used in a while because it drains a lot of the generators power.”
Static starts to come out speakers as the lights flicker again.
“Ok, you have five minutes,” Mika says looking slightly worried as the lights flicker a third time.
Fanny lets out an exasperated breath before pressing the button on the side of the microphone, “Hello, hello, can you read me? This is Stephanie Goyer. I am trying to reach Damian or Joshua from Superessendam Island. Please respond, I don’t have long. Over.”
“Superessendam?” Mika asks puzzled.
“Its Latin for survival,” Hope replies.
“Yeah the Freedom Fighters renamed it ten years ago when they realized that the Zombies were unable to get to us,” Fanny says still listening to the static.
“Sounds a little rash, doesn’t it?” Mika asks.
“I think they did it more to give optimism to the rest of the survivors,” Fanny says.
A voice crackles through the static, but it is barely distinguishable. Mika fumbles with the controls trying to get the frequency right.
The deep voice fades away before coming back one last time, “Over.”
“Please resend transmission,” Fanny asks holding the button on the microphone tightly with both hands.
Mika claws her hands off the button, bringing the static back before the voice comes back again.
“Fanny, this is Stan,” the voice calls again, “where are you?” His voice fades out before the static is heard again.
“Stan. Stan!” Fanny cries into the microphone.
“Let me try,” Mika says taking the microphone out of her hands, “Hello. This is Caption Mika Barrows of the one thirty six. I am trying to help my friends get in contact with their home. Over.”
The static grows louder as the lights dim again. The lights pick up as the radio turns itself off.
“What happened?” Fanny asks.
“I don’t know,” Mika says flicking a few of the switches trying to get the radio back on, “I think we burnt out a wire, or something stupid.”
“MIKA!” The Major’s voice rings throughout the room causing the trio to jump to attention and face him. “What is going on in here?”
“Sir?” Mika asks still startled.
“Why are the lights flickering and why are they still here?” The Major asks, a vein throbbing on his forehead.
“Sir I apologize,” Mika says regaining some composure, “the radio must have interfered with the lighting. As for Fanny and Hope, we had just gotten in touch with one of their friends when… well…”
“What happened?” The Major asks, his voice dropping deeper as slower as he pronounces each syllable.
“It’s the radio, sir,” Mika spits out, “I think we fried one of the wires.”
“Well this is just great,” The Major says throwing his arms up in the air. He grunts and groans as he mumbles under his breath. He takes a few deep breaths trying to calm himself down. “Can you fix it?”
“I think so, yeah,” Mika nods.
“Alright,” The Major nods, “Then get it done. And you two can be on your way.”
“I don’t think so,” Fanny growls, “I still need to get in touch with someone back home.”
“Last time I let you do that, you broke my radio,” The Major retorts.
“With all due respect, Major,” She says in a mocking tone. “Maybe if you used your radio more it wouldn’t have fried after five seconds of use.”
“That is not your call to make, its mine!” The Major yells getting right up in Fanny’s face. His voice continues to bounce off the walls.
“HEY!” Hope says peeling the pair away from each other, “Perhaps you both forgot, but we aren’t the enemy here. Those ungodly creatures walking the streets are. Now like it or not we are all in this together and we need to stop fighting and arguing with each other. Otherwise we’ve already lost.”
“Fine,” The Major says backing away from the threesome, “than the two of you can help Mika fix the radio. And this time try not to break anything else.”
They watch as the Major leaves the room still slightly irritated.
“And you didn’t think you have what it takes to be in charge,” Fanny says poking Hope with her elbow.
A rush of pride swells up inside Hope as a smile graces her face for the first time in what feels like forever. “All right, now let’s fix this radio and get ourselves to Texas.”
Chapter 9
Mika and Hope are still inside the control room. The panel to the radio has been removed and placed off to the side. Hope holds her flashlight steady as Mika fumbles with the different wires strewn around the inside of the shell. Fanny walks up to them with a blank expression on her face.
“Well, you were right,” She starts leaning against the wall, “the rest of the bunker has power.”
“See, I told you,” Mika says pulling his head out from the radio casing, “we must have burned out one of the wires inside the radio.”
“Yeah but have you figured out which one yet?” Fanny asks.
“Well…no,” Mika admits sheepishly.
“So where do we go from here?” Hope asks.
“Honestly I have no clue,” Mika confesses. “I can’t find any sign of anything singed or cracked.”
“So there is no way to get in touch with home?” Hope asks with a deep sigh.
“I’m afraid not,” Mika replies shaking his head, “unless you have another source of…” his voice trails off as his eyes focus on the green wire running to the back of the radio, “…power.” He gestures for Hope to move as he makes his way to the back of the radio, his nose sniffing as he follows slowly, “I can smell the burnt copper and plastic.”
He jams his hand back behind the radio, sliding it forward just enough to wrap his fingers around the thick coil. He runs his hand downward feeling the plastic casing for any sign of abnormalities.
“Here we go,” He exclaims pulling the wire closer, “Hope bring the light.”
Hope shines the light down on the wire. The green casing has black scorch marks around the sides that are split revealing the crispy wires inside.
“Well that doesn’t look good,” Fanny says peering over Hope’s shoulder.
“This wire is toast,” Mika rumbles.
“Is there any way to fix it?” Hope asks.
“I think we may have some spare parts in the shed,” Mika says with a groan.
“The shed?” the girls ask in unison.
“It’s just a name we gave to the storage room,” pushing past the girls and putting the panel back on the computer.
“So we go and get the spare wire, connect it and get the radio working,” Fanny says optimistically.
“That’s the plan. But it could take a while,” Mika says walking toward the door, stopping when he realizes the girls are behind him. He turns to them and runs his hand over his baldhead. “Why don’t you two head back to your rooms and I’ll get you if I find the parts we need.”
“What?” Fanny asks with a stunned look, “are you trying to tell us we aren’t allowed inside your storage facility.”
“Well actually I was trying to avoid using those words,” Mika says clearing his throat.
“Why?” Hope asks s
lightly defensive.
“Because your friend doesn’t seem to take no for an answer,” Mika says waving his hand in Fanny’s direction.
The two girls look at each other, Hope shrugs her shoulders and nods. Fanny rolls her eyes and walks back over to the radio before letting out a frustrated grunt. Mika slowly exits the room without saying another word. Fanny flips a few of the switches on the radio.
“What are you doing?” Hope asks.
“I don’t know,” Fanny mumbles, “I guess I’m just realizing that I’m more in the way.”
“What? How could you even think that?” Hope asks startled.
“How could I not?” Fanny asks, “Ever since we got on that boat I’ve been getting into arguments with everyone, John, Sara, Greg, the Major, Mika and you. I get it now I’m the problem.”
“Don’t,” Hope says with a groan, “don’t do this.”
“Do what?” Fanny asks.
“This!” Hope screams, “Fanny I love you and I want you to know this is nothing more than honest criticism. You are a goddamn drama queen.”
“I’m glad to see your true colors finally coming out,” Fanny sighs as she walks toward the door, “I’m just sorry it took you so long to admit it.”
Hope takes in a couple of deep breaths trying to regain as much composure as she can before opening her mouth, “Fuck off.”
“What did you just say to me?” Fanny asks shocked at what her friend had just said to her.
“You heard me,” Hope says getting right up in Fanny’s face, “Now I understand that you have to be dealing with a lot of stress right now, especially being back in this godforsaken land. Hell, I’ve only been here a few weeks and I’m already having nightmares. I can only imagine what you’ve endured. And I’ve backed you up, against the Major, when you wanted to use the radio with Greg back on the boat. Hell, I even followed you blindly after Greg got eaten. But now, right now, you are over reacting.”
The bridge of Fanny’s nose wrinkles up, her nostrils flaring and her right eye twitching. “You’re right. And for that I’m sorry.” She turns her back to Hope as she wipes away a stray tear, rolling down her cheek. “I feel like I’m always apologizing to you lately.”
“But you don’t have to,” Hope says. “At least you wouldn’t have to if you just stayed calm. We are all a team you know. We can talk things through, work them out, but you have to trust us too you know.”
“I know,” Fanny laments, “it’s just hard sometimes. I keep forgetting that you’re a grown woman now and you can handle yourself.”
“But I’ll still need you by my side,” Hope says rubbing her arm.
“You’d better,” Fanny says placing her hand on top of Hope’s.
“We good?”
“Yeah.”
“Good. Now would you mind telling me why it’s so important for you to radio home?” Hope asks with a little more urgency in her voice.
Fanny thinks about it for a moment, her still puffy eyes scrolling up and down Hope’s face. “Do you remember how concerned I was that Joshua sent us here instead of Texas?”
“Yeah?”
“Well I want an answer,” Fanny says, “I think we deserve it. And I want to know now in case we don’t survive.”
“I thought Greg said something about the fuel?” Hope says trying to remember what was said.
“Yeah that’s what he said,” Fanny nods, “but I’m not buying it. It seems like more of a risk to have us land here and walk. It’s almost like Joshua has sent us out to die.”
“But why would he want us dead?” Hope asks concerned.
“That’s the question isn’t it?” Fanny smirks.
“It doesn’t make any sense,” Hope says disheveled, “I mean why would Joshua want…or dad?” She looks up, “what about dad?”
“He’s not involved,” Fanny says. “Actually I think Joshua’s starting to piss him off too.”
“Why would you think that?”
“I’m not sure, I’m still working this out as I go,” she groans, “I wasn’t even going to bring this up with you until I had it all worked out, but its driving me crazy.”
“What’s driving you crazy?” Mika asks walking up behind them. The girls each let out a soft ‘eek’ as they jump up. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.” He lays a rather large box down on the floor before bending back and stretching his back out.
“That looks heavy,” Hope jokes.
“Yeah, well to be honest I couldn’t find the right wire. So I just brought them all,” Mika replies.
“So how do we fix it?” Fanny asks peeling open the flaps and peeking inside.
Mika puts his hand on the flap closing it again. “We don’t. I do.”
“What do you mean?” Hope asks.
“I mean, you two can go back to your rooms or head down to the kitchen for some rations and I’ll work on the radio,” Mika says ushering them towards the door. “I promise I’ll come get you as soon as I’m done.”
“You don’t honestly think we are just going to walk away now, do you?” Fanny asks with a laugh.
“Yes,” Mika says dryly, “or else I won’t even begin to fix it.”
“You wouldn’t do that,” Fanny says, “The Major wouldn’t like that.”
“Actually it was the Major who told me to send you away,” Mika sighs.
“It figures,” Fanny says tossing up her hands in defeat, stomping her feet back and forth. “Of course that slimly low life son of a bitch wouldn’t want us anywhere near his precious…”
“Fanny, stop,” Hope says waving her off. “Maybe we should go to the kitchen, finish our talk. Plus I am kind of hungry.”
“Fine,” Fanny says giving in, “let’s go to the kitchen. But you had better get us as soon as your done or else.”
“I give you my word,” Mika says softly.
“Your word means shit to me,” She says as Hope drags her out of the room.
Hope has to walk behind her all the way to the kitchen. The hallways are dimly lit. The walls are painted a light beige color that has clearly not been kept up with. Dust and debris line the top and bottom of the wall and chips of paint are missing in places. There is even a hole dented in the usually steady wall just about chest high and no bigger than a baseball. It doesn’t take them long to reach the kitchen from the main hall. Neither of them had actually been there yet having spent most of their time in their rooms healing. The kitchen is set up almost like a cafeteria. The floor is black and white checkered linoleum with about a dozen round tables placed around the room. Each table has four plastic chairs most of them appear to be in bad shape. Silver duct tape lines the backs of many of the chairs, covering up the childish colors of reds and yellows.
“My God it’s like I’m back in elementary school,” Fanny exclaims, her jaw propped open.
They walks past a few tables, the room is mostly deserted with the exception of a few people huddled together across the room at a single table. They each look malnourished their faces and hands dirty and a look of fear in their eyes as they stare down Hope and Fanny. Past the tables and chairs they come to a set of stainless steel windows, Amanda is sitting on the other side.
“Hey guys,” She says sitting up.
“Hey,” Hope says with a smile, “what are you doing here?”
“We all take shifts in the kitchen,” Amanda replies. “Not that there are many people left here.”
“What about those people over there?” Fanny asks gesturing to the lonely souls still huddled together on the far, side, wall.
“Those are the rest of our scavengers,” Amanda replies. “They just came back from, well.” She points her finger upward not wanting to say the words. “Anyway, what brings you two here?”
“Mika sent us here to get rations,” Hope replies.
“Yeah he kicked us out of the control room,” Fanny says rolling her eyes.
“That sounds like The Major has his hand in that decision,” Amanda says stirring a ladle around
inside a large silver pan just to the left of her.
“Yeah, how’d you know?” Hope asks.
“I’ve known the Major for quite a long time. Don’t get me wrong, I love the guy, and he’s a hell of a leader, but sometimes he can be a bit…” she trails off as she tries to think of the right word.
“Psychotic?” Fanny chimes in.
“Yeah that’s the word,” Amanda says with chuckle.
Amanda passes the ladle through the soup a few times before portioning some into two cups and sliding them to the two friends. Hope and Fanny take their cups and start over towards the closest table.
Fanny stops in her tracks and turns back to Amanda. “Hey, can I ask you a question?”
“Sure, ask me anything,” Amanda replies.
“How many of them went out?” Fanny asks nodding towards the scavengers.
“Twelve,” Amanda says shaking her head.
“But there are only five of them over there.” Fanny leans in, and whispers.
“Yeah I know,” Amanda sighs, “sad part is more came back than expected.”
“Really? Less than half of them make it back after searching for supplies and you’re disappointed that five came back?” Fanny growls.
“I never said I was disappointed,” Amanda hisses back, “all I meant was that searched further then the scavengers ever have. And in all reality usually only two or three even make it back. And usually there is some kind of life threatening wound or a Zombie horde waiting near the church or sometimes…”
“Wait a minute,” Fanny says cutting her off, “What do you mean ‘waiting near the church?’ do you think they know we’re here?”
“No, I just,” her voice wanders as she starts to think about it, “I don’t know. They never showed any sign of intelligence in the past.”
“No but maybe they are,” She suggests.
“That’s crazy,” Amanda responds with a nervous laugh, “I mean for that to happen they would need…I don’t even know what.”
“They wouldn’t need anything,” Fanny grins evilly, “except for the virus to mutate.”
Omega Virus (Book 2): Revisited Page 9